| 摘要 |
There are provided a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a cross-linked thermoplastic resin foam arranged as follows. A resin composition, which contains at least a thermoplastic resin, a foaming agent, and a cross-linking agent, is extruded into a closed die (2), which includes at least a molding region (20), a heating region (21), and a cooling region (22), continuously arranged in the order named. The resin composition is molded into a desired shape in the molding region of the die, and is then heated in the heating region to decompose the cross-linking agent and also to decompose at least part of the foaming agent so that cell nuclei are produced, thereby forming a partially foamed product (5). In the cooling region of the die, the partially foamed product is cooled to a temperature lower than the softening point thereof to be increased in rigidity, and is extruded to the outside of the die while being subjected to a damping force as it moves in the cooling region. The partially foamed product (5), extruded from the die, is heated under normal pressure to expand the foaming agent fully, whereupon a final product (6) is obtained. <IMAGE> |
